[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAUL KALINIAN

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 2017

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
Fresnan Paul Kalinian, a philanthropic and award winning filmmaker 
known especially for his documentary on Armenian-American William 
Saroyan.
  Paul Kalinian was born in Beirut, Lebanon on February 14, 1932, but 
spent the majority of his childhood in Damascus, Syria. At age 14, he 
discovered his passion for photography and began learning the skill at 
the Photo Gulbenk Studio in Damascus. Four years later, he returned to 
Beirut, opening his first photography studio, Photo Paul in 1961. In 
1964, he moved to Canada, then to the United States to further pursue a 
future in photography and filmmaking. Attending the New York Institute 
of Photography, Paul received degrees in Photography and Motion Picture 
Production in 1967. That same year, he returned to Beirut to marry his 
longtime sweetheart, Araxie Deuvletian. They immigrated to the United 
States and were blessed with twins: a son Harold and a daughter Susie, 
making Fresno, California their permanent home, the birthplace of his 
childhood hero William Saroyan.
  In 1972, Paul opened his second studio, Paul's Photography Studio, in 
Fresno, California. Throughout the years, he photographed countless 
people from all walks of life, from politicians and generals, to 
models, musicians and clergy leaders. His works have been published in 
over a dozen books, and numerous newspapers and magazines, and have 
been displayed in over a dozen different locations such as government 
buildings, museums, schools and libraries.
  Aside from having a passion for photography, Paul had a dream of one 
day being able to photograph internationally renowned Armenian-American 
Pulitzer Prize and Oscar winner, William Saroyan. After 12 years of 
chasing this dream, Paul was finally able to capture portraits of the 
famous writer and playwright on March 26, 1976. One such characteristic 
portrait was selected by the United States and Soviet Union Postal 
Services, among 400 other photographs, to be used for their 
Commemorative Postal Stamps. This was the first time in history that an 
individual was selected as a humanitarian symbol of peace and 
friendship between two superpower nations. First-day-issue ceremonies 
took place simultaneously on May 22, 1991 in Fresno, California and in 
Yerevan, Armenia.
  After William Saroyan's death in 1981, Paul created a 22 minute 
presentation of Saroyan's portraits, along with his narration ``How I 
shot Saroyan,'' which was shown over 100 times in various cities, and 
televised on public stations. In light of the positive response, Paul 
and his daughter, Dr. Susie Kalinian, decided to collaborate and create 
a documentary film about Saroyan's life and works, narrated by another 
famous Fresnan whom Kalinian admires and respects, television and 
motion picture star, actor Mike Connors. Entitled William Saroyan; The 
Man The Writer, the film was written and directed by Paul and produced 
by his daughter. It is a symbol of Paul's admiration for Saroyan as one 
of the greatest writers of our time. The film was created to preserve 
and present Saroyan's works, recognize his dual cultural heritage, and 
spread his message of peace and hope around the world. The film, a 
labor of love, won numerous awards of recognition, including six 
international film festival awards and a Gold Award for Best 
Documentary Film among 12 competing nations. The film premiered on 
April 9, 1991 in Fresno at the William Saroyan Theatre. Today, over one 
million people have seen the film in more than 60 cities in 19 
countries around the world. This film not only pays tribute to Saroyan, 
but pays tribute to Armenians and Fresno, California.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating a 
man who has dedicated his life to preserving American and Armenian 
culture through the art of photography and film. It is both fitting and 
appropriate that we recognize Paul Kalinian for his educational and 
philanthropic contributions to his community, his country, and our 
world. I join Paul's family in wishing him health and happiness for 
years to come.

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